5. The CAR is a mineral-rich country the size of France. It has been plagued by poverty and a series of coups, mutinies, and conflicts since gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1960.

6. This latest political conflict has pitted the Seleka — Muslim rebels that include fighters from neighboring Chad and Sudan — against the previous government and now, with sectarianism on the rise, against the majority Christian population.

10. Since then, Seleka rebels have been raiding and razing with impunity. The Guardian, for example, has reported on cases of Seleka rebels throwing people into rivers filled with crocodiles and bludgeoning women to death while in search of water.

ICYMI - the most popular story on our site this week: What a war crime looks like from space.
http://t.co/05AqgQ4ecH

— Stephen Northfield (@snorthfield45)

Stephen Northfield

@snorthfield45

ICYMI - the most popular story on our site this week: What a war crime looks like from space.
http://t.co/05AqgQ4ecH

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ID: 2065299

11. In response to the attacks and killings, many in villages have formed their own militias, called the anti-balaka, as the cycle of violence continues.

20. Meanwhile, France announced last week that it would send 1,000 additional soldiers to CAR. France, which previously controlled CAR, already has 400 troops on the ground with a mandate to protect French nationals.

21. The worsening situation in CAR is raising fears that the conflict could spread to neighbors like Chad, Sudan, and Uganda, fueling further fighting in countries that have also long suffered from political instability and conflicts.

Dep. #UNSG tells #UNSC that #CentralAfricanRepublic is potential "breeding ground for extremists." Failing states are all states' problem.

— Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower)

Samantha Power

@AmbassadorPower

Dep. #UNSG tells #UNSC that #CentralAfricanRepublic is potential “breeding ground for extremists.” Failing states are all states’ problem.

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ID: 2065513

23. Djotodia has officially dissolved the rebel coalition, but he has done little to stem the violence. On Saturday, he denied that the country was on the brink of genocide or interreligious war, according to news reports.